Cannonball Run…And Still Running.
I once wrote that, “if you don't like CANNONBALL RUN (1981), please get away from me.” That was hyperbole of course, but there is some truth to it. If there isn't a single thing you can find to like about this movie, then I must conclude that you have no sense of fun or humor. Or, maybe you are Amish and have a vendetta against cars, in which case, I feel you. Cars have been some of the scariest murderers of all time. CHRISTINE (1983), MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE (1986), THE CAR (1971) are all examples of killer cars that made me reconsider that maybe I should get my steps in. I have good news though. No one dies in CANNONBALL RUN (1981). So that's no excuse! In fact, the car race really plays second fiddle to the astounding spirit and eccentricity of what it can mean to be human. The themed teams, the simple premise for the race, the absurd lengths people will go to commit to the bit, it's all a part of what makes this star-studded movie a true classic. They don't do zany like this anymore. The nonsense is my favorite thing about it, and it's what makes the rea- life Cannonball Run story equally mesmerizing. You come for the car race. You stay for the human spirit trying to see how far it can push itself.
I have loved 1981's CANNONBALL RUN since I was a kid. If you don't know what CANNONBALL RUN is, let me proudly be the first to introduce it to you. It's a movie where teams of drivers compete to drive from New York City to Redondo Beach, California in the shortest amount of time possible. There are no rules or set routes. There is also no race support beyond the starting and finish line. Many teams of drivers in different kinds of vehicles with a variety of gimmicks enter for the chance to see how fast they could go. The cast is a who's who of famous celebrities, actors, and fictional characters, but the lead is Burt Reynolds. It also stars Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr. It is directed by legendary stuntperson turned beloved filmmaker Hal Needham (SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT, STROKER ACE, MEGAFORCE). While often critically rated negatively, I have found it to be quite beloved across generations. It was hugely successful financially and spawned two sequels (well...one official sequel in 1984 and then 1989’s SPEED ZONE is often referred to as the third, especially with the return of Jamie Farr’s character).
I remember thinking that because it is highly illegal, and there was no real purpose that it was impossible this was based on anything remotely true. This belief was doubly reinforced by the Wacky Races-esque silliness of the themed driving teams. Earlier this year, I rewatched this movie and while looking into behind-the-scenes features, I discovered a wealth of videos on YouTube about “the REAL Cannonball Run.” “Okay, so there is a coast-to-coast race, but it's probably nothing like the movie,” is what I thought. Surprisingly, the more I researched, the more I found that the movie is a perfect tribute and Hollywood representation of this bizarre, very real, event.
This story starts with Erwin Baker, a racing enthusiast born in 1882, who became famous for setting cross country records on motorcycles and cars. He is most famous for driving from New York to Los Angeles in 53.5 hours in 1933. Brock Yates and Steve Smith, the creators of what later is commonly referred to simply as the “Cannonball Run,” named their race the Cannonball Baker Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash in honor of this famous racer. (Pfeiffer, 2022)
Brock Yates was a racer and reporter for Car and Driver magazine. His editor was Steve Smith. Both came together to create the first Cannonball Run as a way to promote their magazine and illustrate their belief that good drivers can safely go fast. Even though it was called the Cannonball Baker Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, the first run was non-competitive. It was only Brock Yates, his son Brock Yates, Jr., Steve Smith, and friend Jim Williams in a Dodge Sportsman Van on May 3rd, 1971. It took 40 hours and 51 minutes. The race would be formally hosted by Car and Driver four more times in the '70s, and did subsequently have many competitive teams. The final record time was 32 hours and 51 minutes. This was set by driver Dave Heinz and Dave Yarborough in a Jaguar XJ-S. (Davis, 2018)
It was during this time that Yates was developing a script for a Cannonball movie. Two unofficial movies came out before he could complete an official deal. (Yates, 2022) The first was CANNONBALL! (1976), directed by Paul Bartel and starred David Carradine. The second was THE GUMBALL RALLY (1976), directed by Charles Bail and starred newcomers Raul Julia and Gary Busey. Aside from seeing these future legendary actors, the Cannonball-inspired movies from 1976 are mediocre at best and do not properly capture the spirit of the official Car and Driver hosted race.
Brock Yates eventually did get his movie deal. Yates developed the last official Cannonball Run Race with the future movie's director ,Hal Needham. With the knowledge that it would inspire the movie, they raised the bar for sensationalizing the race. In the 1979 race, Yates drove an ambulance dressed as an EMT. His wife posed as the patient. This scheme did work to get out of speeding tickets, but it did not prevent the many other engine problems that plagued them throughout the race. The ambulance eventually had to be pulled onto the flatbed of a semi-truck that carried them across the finish line. (Yates, 2022) A team posing as priests, and a team of skintight jumpsuit femme fatales was also true to life. Jamie Farr's Sheik character in the souped-up Rolls-Royce is inspired by a real-life wealthy entrant who rode in the back of his Rolls-Royce while his chauffeur drove across the country. Another team successfully drove the race in a hazardous waste truck posing as sanitation workers. (Ramaci, 2023) The creativity of the gimmicks to avoid speeding tickets and police capture really do showcase how versatile and innovative people can be when they put their mind to it.
The Cannonball Run continues to be unofficially run today. The emptiness of the streets during the pandemic gave the race a resurgence. Automobile technology is also advancing quickly and the Cannonball Run is considered a good endurance test for a vehicle. The current record is 25 hours and 39 minutes set in 2020. Arne Toman, Doug Tabbutt, and spotter Dunadel Daryoush drove a custom Audi S6 disguised as a police car. (Horton, 2020) Along with a laundry list of other police evading technology and engine upgrades, they were able to go from coast to coast in just over one day.
The Cannonball Run has always been illegal. A valid critique of this race is that it is altogether unsafe for civilians/everyone involved wherever these racers go. While there have been only a few minor injuries reported from racers over the years, and no reports of accidents with civilians, it is fair to say that if even one life were lost because of it, it is not worth it. So why the allure?
The creators of Cannonball Run, Yates and Smith, wanted to show people that they believed good drivers can go fast safely. They believed in increasing the power of cars and not minimizing them. While I personally do not agree, I understand that there is a sense of magic surrounding the ability to go from one end of the country to the other damn near overnight. The movie conveys this sense of adventure and spirit well. If you're looking for a true joy ride that will challenge the way you look at cars, then I suggest you watch THE CANNONBALL RUN and do some research on the real Cannonball Run. It's a showcase of technology, ingenuity, willpower, and the sheer spirit of human audacity.
References
Davis, J. (2018, December 18). The history of the cannonball run: The C2C express part One. MotorTrend. https://www.hotrod.com/features/history-cannonball-run-sea-shining-sea-part-1/
Horton, A. (2020, December 6). These guys finished a record cannonball run from New York to L.A., averaging 103 mph. here’s how. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/12/06/these-guys-finished-record-cannonball-run-new-york-la-averaging-mph-heres-how/
Pfeiffer, A. C. (2022, August 10). Indiana’s daredevil racer: Erwin “cannon ball” Baker and his 1914 record-breaking transcontinental motorcycle run. The Indiana History Blog. https://blog.history.in.gov/indianas-daredevil-racer-erwin-cannon-ball-baker-and-his-1914-record-breaking-transcontinental-motorcycle-run/
Ramaci, R. (2023, May 31). Fast facts vol. 1, issue 28 – the cannonball run: Fraser. Fraser Engines and Transmissions | Nationwide Reman Provider. https://fraserengineco.com/fraser-fast-facts/the-cannonball-run/
Yates, B. (2022). Cannonball! World’s Greatest Outlaw Race. Motorbooks.
